Haiti Watch: What’s Next Now? : Clash of two cultures as U.S. forces settle in

The political washing machine that is the Administration’s Haiti policy proceeded apace Wednesday: load, agitate, spin.

After threatening invasion, then managing to avoid it, then ordering U.S. troops to land, only to see them stand by amid continued brutality, President Clinton now says he will not tolerate more violence in Haiti. Right move.

CEDRAS WATCH: Haitian authorities were up to their usual dirty business. They used bats, whips and tear gas to terrorize crowds who gathered Tuesday to cheer the arrival of U.S. troops. No surprise there. The arrival of those troops didn’t deter the thugs. One man was clubbed to death while reporters took notes and the American military personnel stayed back.

Standing by idly is not an American tradition, but the rules of engagement set by last weekend’s deal between Washington and the junta called for U.S. troops to use force only in self-defense or to prevent a massive threat to Haitian stability. Crowd control and other policing chores were to be left to Haitian authorities. The unchecked brutality, which was not part of that bargain, prompted a warranted clarification of the rules.

So U.S. Secretary of Defense William J. Perry announced Wednesday that more than 1,000 American military police will oversee Haitian police; the U.S. police, and human rights monitors, will arrive shortly. Establishing order and discipline will pose a huge challenge given the Haitian authorities’ sordid history. But Lt. Gen. Raoul Cedras has been told to rein in his soldiers and police. The message is stop the “unnecessary force”--a euphemism forthe deplorable beatings--or face aggressive action by the American troops. Good move.

ARISTIDE WATCH: Perry also met with ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who, after a few days of mostly glaring silence, finally, if not exactly gushingly, thanked the United States for its intervention. Aristide also called on all Haitians to reject violence. That won’t happen without the presence of a strong multinational peacekeeping force and a vigilant U.S. press. And it won’t happen without a consistent U.S. policy message: It’s a new ball game, watch your step.